NNPC mega stations operating in Bauchi metropolis and its environs have been taken over by touts and black market operators who virtually control the movements of vehicles in and out of them.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the touts can be found in the four stations on Gombe, Dass, Maiduguri and Jos roads.
Some vehicle owners told NAN that the touts allowed vehicles into the stations at will, in spite of the long time other law abiding motorists spent on the queues.
Alhaji Ali Musa, a resident of Wunti quarters in the outskirt of the metropolis, said he spent more than one hour on the queue on the Jos road mega station.
“Other vehicle owners willing to part with some money would just form another parallel queue and without waste of time, be ushered in by the youths.
“I have spent more than an hour here, but as you can see, other vehicles are being allowed to over take us and buy fuel because they are paying some money.
“Corruption has eaten deep into the fabrics of our people. Only God knows when Nigerians will change for the better,” he said.
It was observed that many of the black marketers were buying petrol in old scooters without engines, but had tanks built purposely at the bottom with capacity to hold more than 30 litres at a go.
NAN was told that only the Manager of the station could speak to the press but had gone to Abuja.
However, one of the staff members, who pleaded anonymity, said they were doing their best to curtail the menace.
“You know, these boys do not fear any one and because these stations are government owned, they think it is their right to do any thing.
“There used to be some security personnel patrolling the area and the moment the boys see them, they will run away.
“But for some time now, we don’t see any police man assigned to control the situation here.
“If the situation persists, we will have to ask the management for assistance from the Police,” NAN was told.
(NAN)
